Flying in future may see on-board internet, phone connectivity

HYDERABAD: Biometrics for employees and passengers, on-board internet and phone connectivity are some of the technologies that are likely to be introduced in Indian aviation in the future, according to a new report.

"Indian aviation is likely to witness some key technologies being deployed, which are expected to have a positive impact on businesses and operations in the future.

However, this will need to be supported by favourable policy and industry initiatives," a CAPA-SITA report on Innovation & Technology, released during the ongoing air show here, said.

Mobility solutions to facilitate passenger processing for airlines (mobile check-in, boarding pass on mobile) and to support staff efficiency are likely to be deployed, the report said.

On-board internet and phone connectivity is also envisaged in the next five years, it said.

"Server and application virtualization are both being considered as a means to reduce the costs of IT, with server virtualization being seen as the priority given the impact on reducing server infrastructure.

There is also growing interest in the "as-a-service" approach that cloud computing brings to the rationalization and cost reduction of IT infrastructure," the report by CAPA - Centre for Aviation (CAPA) and SITA, the global air transport IT solutions specialist, said.

An integrated radar system is at an early stage of implementation and is expected to be critical as it will cover the blind areas not covered by the current radar systems, it added.

Self-service kiosks are expected to witness full scale deployment by 2014. Their common-use solutions will become increasingly common, and the use of a shared platform should permit the provision of a more seamless service, the report said. It also forecasted web solutions for filing of flight plan through the internet.